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ajakubison's review against another edition
4.0
This book tells the fascinating story of the personal librarian of a famous banker who has a secret she’s desperate to keep in a county fated to hate her- in a sea of white elites, she is black but lives as white. This book is about being black in America in the time of segregation and Jim Crow laws and the experiences Belle had both as a person of color as well as from the white perspective.
It’s written by two women, one black and the other white and was started prior to 2020 but was edited in a post-pandemic world rife with racism, protests and social justice movements. This timing shaped what the book became and how so many years after the time period this book is set, we still have a “Black America” and a “White America” instead of a unified one.
It’s written by two women, one black and the other white and was started prior to 2020 but was edited in a post-pandemic world rife with racism, protests and social justice movements. This timing shaped what the book became and how so many years after the time period this book is set, we still have a “Black America” and a “White America” instead of a unified one.
sholomkrishna's review against another edition
2.0
How did they manage to make such an interesting life so dull? Why would a supposed tribute pervert a woman’s professional accomplishments into a (bad) love story? Glad to move on.
williamsocnwld's review against another edition
4.0
Really interesting! So much I didn’t know about the history of the Morgan family and Morgan’s private Librarian. She was pretty remarkable in and of herself, but the secret she held was incredible! I wonder how many people in her period of time were in the same position as Belle. I really loved the story and thought it was well told. I look forward to reading about the stories of other amazing women through the eyes of this author!
bethanygladhill's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyable - fiction but not too fictive....
tucsonbet's review against another edition
5.0
What a wonderful story of a strong woman from history whom I had never heard of. The story is also a compelling glimpse into the racism in American that has only improved slightly since the days of Belle da Costa Greene.
linzgaff's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this piece of historical fiction, and the audiobook is really well done.
kayla_clark_'s review against another edition
3.0
This was a fascinating story with a heroine that was easy to root for. The pacing was a little off & some characters under-developed, but a story that needed to be told!
tlctara's review against another edition
2.0
Writing style not to my liking
I would have preferred a biography of Belle instead of this fictionized version with over the top, forced and flowery writing style. I felt like I was reading a Harlequin romance novel. But the true historical story itself is really interesting and I would enjoy a more factual and straight forward telling.
I would have preferred a biography of Belle instead of this fictionized version with over the top, forced and flowery writing style. I felt like I was reading a Harlequin romance novel. But the true historical story itself is really interesting and I would enjoy a more factual and straight forward telling.
sarahbuc's review against another edition
5.0
There is a beauty when you open the pages of a book and find yourself transported into another era. Allowing for you to feel as if you are right there with the characters and all that they are going through. With this one it's been so much more than learning about Belle da Costa Greene the personal librarian of J.P. Morgan. His collection of books, manuscripts and art is such that I've felt myself transported back into my own world.
There was mention of various artists, Rodin, Stieglitz and others which caught my eye immediately. Knowing who they all were and feeling as if another art history lesson was upon me. As art is looked at, admired, examined I found myself caught up in the story of the piece. We can all admire it's beauty, yet within the hands that made it is the story.
Belle's story so far has been incredible as a woman who is passing for white in a world that if her secret was revealed it would come crashing down. Other woman looking up to her as an example of success in being able to live on her own without marriage. Each page has opened up windows into her life as a librarian, her family life and shown me a person to get to know better in the pages of a book. Her story was fascinating in all that she accomplished in her life, all that she did for the library. I was captivated by it all and found the pages turning quickly, savoring all the words I read as the book progressed.
Beneath the layers of her story and the library were those of race and segregation. Things that at the time were very much a part of society, as they are today. Even with Belle wanting to keep her true identity a secret as if she was found out her world would have likely crumbled to the ground. Truly eye opening and I greatly appreciated the issues as they were woven into such a remarkable tale. One that will surely stay with me for some time.
There was mention of various artists, Rodin, Stieglitz and others which caught my eye immediately. Knowing who they all were and feeling as if another art history lesson was upon me. As art is looked at, admired, examined I found myself caught up in the story of the piece. We can all admire it's beauty, yet within the hands that made it is the story.
Belle's story so far has been incredible as a woman who is passing for white in a world that if her secret was revealed it would come crashing down. Other woman looking up to her as an example of success in being able to live on her own without marriage. Each page has opened up windows into her life as a librarian, her family life and shown me a person to get to know better in the pages of a book. Her story was fascinating in all that she accomplished in her life, all that she did for the library. I was captivated by it all and found the pages turning quickly, savoring all the words I read as the book progressed.
Beneath the layers of her story and the library were those of race and segregation. Things that at the time were very much a part of society, as they are today. Even with Belle wanting to keep her true identity a secret as if she was found out her world would have likely crumbled to the ground. Truly eye opening and I greatly appreciated the issues as they were woven into such a remarkable tale. One that will surely stay with me for some time.
slibourel's review against another edition
4.0
I had not heard of Belle de Costa Greene (aka Belle Marion Greener), who was hired by JP Morgan as a librarian and curator to manage his personal collection of rare manuscripts and art. Belle was the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a racial civil rights activist and contemporary of Booker T Washington, WEB DuBois, and Frederick Douglass. Belle worked in the rare books department of Princeton University Library when she was recommended to JP Morgan. Belle, a 'colored' woman passing as a white woman of Portuguese descent, was hired. She became renown for being a sharp negotiator and was instrumental in making the Morgan Library a public institution.
Belle's story is fascinating and this book is definitely worth reading for her story. One problem I had, which I often have with historical fiction, is that the characters' emotions are not well portrayed. Their personalities are well drawn, but they appear flat. Others may not be concerned with this. Recommend.
Belle's story is fascinating and this book is definitely worth reading for her story. One problem I had, which I often have with historical fiction, is that the characters' emotions are not well portrayed. Their personalities are well drawn, but they appear flat. Others may not be concerned with this. Recommend.